New Delhi: Protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar continued in Delhi on Saturday, a day after more than 1,000 protesters were detained during demonstrations over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.
AISA activists returned to Jantar Mantar on Saturday after its national president Neha Bora, who was detained during Friday’s protest, called for a fresh mobilisation. Police again detained protesters as they gathered near the protest site, with heavy security and barricades deployed across the area.
Delhi Police must stop its crackdown on protesting students and activists.On October 10, Delhi will witness a massive mobilisation of young Indians. Every attempt to suppress peaceful protesters will only bring more people to the streets and strengthen the march to Jantar…
Around 150 protesters, including Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav, and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, were detained during a march from Patel Chowk towards Jantar Mantar, according to police.
The protests have centred on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with protesters alleging irregularities and the mass deletion of voters. The Election Commission has defended the revision exercise as part of efforts to update electoral rolls.
The demonstrations were not limited to Delhi. In Mumbai, thousands gathered at Shivaji Park on Friday in a protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has also demanded Kumar’s resignation. CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke has announced another protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Kumar does not resign.
Delhi Police have also registered three FIRs in connection with Friday’s protests. The cases relate to alleged violations of restrictions imposed by authorities and other offences; no individual or organisation has been named as an accused in the FIRs.
Condemn the Delhi police brutality on student, youth and members of civil society who gathered today around Jantar Mantar. Yesterday and today showed how the BJP Govt. is doing everything to protect a traitor.Jantar Mantar 2.0 has just begun, it's only going to be over with the…
Abhijeet Dipke called out Delhi Police to end the crackdown. "On October 10, Delhi will witness a massive mobilisation of young Indians. Every attempt to suppress peaceful protesters will only bring more people to the streets and strengthen the march to Jantar Mantar," he wrote on X. Other activists also alleged misconduct by the Delhi Police and condemned the detentions.
With protests continuing for a second day and fresh mobilisation announced for next week, the demand for Kumar’s resignation remains at the centre of the political and civil-society campaign over the voter-roll revision.
Opposition leaders including P Chidambaram mounted a scathing attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, asserting that the "wisest thing" the head of the poll body could do is step down immediately following reports of internal objections surrounding the voter roll revision process.
(With agency inputs)